In Review
First Week of May 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): There have been over one thousand maple trees planted in Evansville this spring, mostly
along the street line.
130 Years Ago (1880): Mr. W. H. Van Hise came in Monday morning, renewed his subscription and ordered the
Review sent to Minden, Nebraska, for which place he started Monday afternoon, by the overland route. He goes
with two teams and Mr. Harry Hosley and family occupy the third team. They expect to be some three weeks
making the journey. Mr. Van Hise and his family have been residents of this town for a number of years, and they
have a good many friends who accompany them with choice expressions of gratitude for health and prosperity in
their new home.
120 Years Ago (1890): There was nothing done here Arbor Day more than any other day, all agreed it was a very
pleasant day, but what of that? There seems but little necessity for planting shade trees for the place has nearly
twice as many as it ought to have unless they are better distributed. Many of our people are cutting out what they
planted years ago. The tops and large branches completely shut out the sunlight obstructing the fine street view.
110 Years Ago (1900): Mr. Ed. Fellows, of Brooklyn, has purchased the Evansville House, consideration $2,500.
Mr. Fellows will build a new barn on the premises and it will be occupied by Mr. Chas. Spoor. The hotel will be
occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fellows and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibbs, Jr. [Note: The Evansville House was a hotel with
a livery barn on the site of today’s Citgo gas station.]
100 Years Ago (1910): The Board of Education met at the high school building Friday, April 29, at 4 p.m. The
following teachers were unanimously elected thus far and accepted the position to which they were elected:
Principal F. J. Lowth, $1,400 per year; J. F. Waddell, Science, $90 per month; Lilla B. Ludington, English, $75 per
month; Hazel North (will not accept) $70 per month; Grace R. Cady, Latin, $60 per month; Lizzie Gillies, 8th grade,
$65 per month; Adeline Campbell, 7th grade $50, per month; Jessie Kelly, 6th grade, $47.50 per month; Miss
Edwards, 5th (not accepted), $45 per month; Nellie Hendricks, 4th grade, $42.50 per month; Cora Fairbanks, 3rd
grade $50 per month; Myrtle Green, 2nd grade, $50 per month; Mae Simmons, 1st grade, $52.50 per month;
Carolyn Hatch, Kindergarten, $55 per month; Mae Phillips, Assistant Kindergarten, $15 per month; Marjorie
Wallace, Music (not accepted), $55 per month.
90 Years Ago (1920): The marriage of Margaret M. Finnane, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Finnane, and
Richard P. Meredith, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Meredith, was solemnized in St. Paul’s Catholic Church on
Wednesday May fifth. The full ritual of the solemn nuptial was carried out with impressive ceremony. The bride
was accompanied by her sister, Miss Juliette Finnane, as maid of honor; and Mr. Meredith was assisted by his
brother, Mr. William Meredith.
80 Years Ago (1930): The official census figures as reported to Mayor E. H. Libby give Evansville a gain of 60 in
population. The new figure is 2,269, as against 2,209 in 1920. The growth of the city is believed due largely to the
development of the Antes Press which now employs about 50 persons, many of whom have come to Evansville from
other cities. “I received marvelous cooperation from the citizens of Evansville and met none of the uncivil rebuffs
reported by some enumerators,” said Mrs. Walter Green, local enumerator. “But of course Evansville has
intelligent, self-respecting people who always behave well!”
70 Years Ago (1940): The Junior Prom will be a brilliant affair. The evening’s festivities will open at 9 o’clock with
three dances followed by the grand march which will be led by Prom Chairman Mac Wall and his queen, Rosalind
Shelby, president of the Sophomore class. Following in line will be Albert Holmes, Senior class president and his
partner Joan Adams, Madison and Bruce Townsend, Junior class president and his guest, Angela Bewick.
60 Years Ago (1950): R. J. Antes, who has given much time, thought and effort to beautifying the Evansville parks
is somewhat discouraged and just a little bit angry, and with just cause. R. J. planted and nursed three pine trees
for months until they looked promising only to have some careless, destructive person come along and snap them
off. And that isn’t all, many of the lights in the shelter house have been broken and the big door has been kicked in
at the bottom.
50 Years Ago (1960): Confirmation services were held at the Cooksville Church Sunday morning, with seven being
confirmed: Carol Hantke, Phyllis Hatlen, Gary Jenson, Dale Kjernes, Robert Martin, Sharon Olson and Sharon
Thronson.
40 Years Ago (1970): The EHS Junior Class presents “The Coming of Spring” as the theme for this year’s Junior
Prom. The evening will be set in an oriental mood with Paul Brunsell and Ann Graham presiding as King and
Queen. Their court members are Sandy Gray, Karen DesRochers, Ilene Pickett, Joan Kelley, Bob Jorgensen,
Terry Bund, Bill Krumwide and Chris Heimerl.
30 Years Ago (1980): George M. Knuckles, Evansville Superintendent of Schools, has announced his candidacy
for Congress from the 1st District of Wisconsin. Knuckles will seek the Republican nomination for the seat currently
being held by Les Aspin.
20 Years Ago (1990): The Evansville High School music department was well represented at the State
Solo/Ensemble contest last Saturday in Madison. The first place winners were Libby Kress, soprano; Rob Peters,
piano; Libby Kress and Jeff Updike, duet; Rachel Mackie, piano; Jeff Updike, bass; the Swing Choir; Libby Kress
and Misty Skaaland, duet; Rob Peters and Marty Loftus, duet; Tara Bradley and Bethany Krake, duet. Second
place winners were Rachel Mackie, cello and Rob Peters, alto saxophone.
10 years ago (2000): The Week of The Young Child parade was led by the Evansville Fire Department. This
year’s Grand Marshall was Ruth Ann Montgomery. The parade included children dressed as Dalmation puppies; a
clown and the Easter Bunny. The elementary 3rd & 4th grades got together and formed their own Kazoo band. A
family math night was also held.
In Review
Second Week of May 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): We understand that Mr. Van Hise, of Milton, has purchased a lot, in the Spencer House
block, and will commence at once the erection of a store thereon. Also that Mrs. Gunn has purchased a lot in the
same block and intends to put up a millinery store. [Note: Mr. Van Hise was the father of Charles Van Hise, a
noted geologist and president of the University of Wisconsin. The Van Hise building is 18 West Main Street. Sarah
Gunn’s building is 16 West Main Street.]
130 Years Ago (1880): The only child, son of widow Pinkham, of Union village, about two years old, was drowned in
a cistern near the house Monday forenoon. The mother is almost frantic with grief. She has lots two children
before and less than a year ago she lost her husband by being buried in a well he was digging. She feels now as
though her cup of sorrow was full.
120 Years Ago (1890): The death of Hannah, wife of A. C. Thorp, Esq., took place after a long and painful
sickness at their residence at the head of Main Street, at about 9 o'clock Saturday morning May 10, 1890. Her age
was 49 years in February last. Her complaint was a tumorous cancer difficulty. Mrs. Thorp was a daughter of the
late Charles McMillan, one of the early settlers of the town of Union, and is said to have been the first female born
of American parents west of Rock River in the early settlement of the county. (Her father having moved and settled
in what was afterwards called Union, in 1839.) Her funeral took place from the M. E. Church, Rev. W. W. Stevens,
pastor, assisted by Prof. J. E. Coleman, at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon. Her coffin was decorated with a
profusion of choice flowers, brought from abroad; one fine wreath of Marshall Neil roses by Mrs. Will Stevens, and a
choice bouquet of white roses, brought by her brother and wife from Oshkosh. The church was filled as it is not
usually done on a weekday funeral occasion.
110 Years Ago (1900): June 1st it will be the duty of Mr. Fred Gilman as census enumerator to ask at each home
in this city some extremely pointed questions and it will be the duty of each person to whom these questions are
addressed to answer them in a cheerful, strictly truthful manner. Questions that will be asked: Surname, Christian
name, initial; residence, street, number of house; relationship of each member of the head of the family; color or
race; sex; age at last birthday; day, month and year when born; are you single, married, widow, widower, or
divorced; number of children; number of children living; sex of children; where were you born, give state or territory,
if foreign birth, give name of country only; where were your mother and father born; what is your occupation; how
many months during the year are you employed; how many months have you attended school; can you read and
write; main facts concerning your education; do you own the house in which you live; if you own the house is it free
or mortgaged; the same questions apply to farmers.
100 Years Ago (1910): Although Saturday was not an ideal circus day, being of a windy and rather disagreeable
nature, with occasional showers which interfered somewhat with the performances, the Col. G. W. Hall and Tiger Bill’
s shows received a large attendance. Both at the afternoon and evening performances large crowds were present
and seemed well satisfied. From here the show went to Sharon, and from there to other near-by places. They
expect to be at Chicago later in the season.
90 Years Ago (1920): The Antes Press of this city was recently incorporated. Increased business and personal
reasons on the part of Mr. Antes, the proprietor, have made the incorporation of the firm necessary. The new firm
is composed of Mr. R. M. Antes, Mr. R. J. Antes and Mr. P. D. Pearsall. Mr. Antes has been in charge of the Antes
Press since its inception here in 1882. The Review rejoices in the new venture because the Antes Press has been
its home these many years.
80 Years Ago (1930): The Juniors’ Prom 1930 promenade was led by Leonard Nelson, president of the Junior
class and the 1930 prom queen, Miss Esther Olson. They were followed in line by LeRoy Geisler, Junior vice
president, and his partner, Miss Norma Frederickson, Beloit; Owen Slauson, Senior president, and his partner, Miss
Margaret Baker; Vearle Hockett, Senior vice president and his partner, Miss Ruth Francis; and Michael Finnane,
1929 prom king and his partner, Miss Veaon Lutz. Veaon Lutz and Harold Schuster were in charge of decorations
as a project in geometry. The gym was a riot of colors in geometric triangles, in violet, rose, apple green, canary
yellow, sand, and black crepe paper.
70 Years Ago (1940): Crews of carpenters, masons, and electricians have been at work here during the past week
erecting an 18 by 64 foot addition to the plant of the Badger Coach company on North Madison Street, which firm
will utilize the additional space for the building of the larger models of automobile trailer coaches. The new addition
is of frame structure with concrete floor and will be faced with brick siding to match the remainder of the plant. The
construction work is in charge of Paul Dehnert, local contractor, who is also erecting the new Cities Service Gas
station at the corner of Main and Madison Streets.
60 Years Ago (1950): The 1950 Junior Prom will be held on May 12. To reign over the dance as king, James
Koeneman was chosen, who in turn asked Jean Butler to be his queen for the evening.
50 Years Ago (1960): Appearing in “Just Off Broadway,” the spring production of Evansville Little Theater at the
High School Auditorium are Betty Storch, Ginny Schneeberger, Steve Stone, John Hermanson, Melvin
Schneeberger, Claude Willoughby, Patsy Gilbert, Marcia Weaver and Jeannie Luchsinger.
40 Years Ago (1970): Drs. R. G. Heimerl, C. E. Nelson and H. C. Youngman were in Milwaukee early this week
attending the 100th annual session of the Wisconsin State Dental Society, the theme of which was “A Century of
Progress.”
30 Years Ago (1980): William C. Brunsell, 150 Sherman Court, Evansville, was elected a director of the Union Bank
& Trust Co., Evansville, Wisconsin, at a regular monthly meeting of the board of directors held May 6, 1980. Mr.
Brunsell will fill the vacancy created by the death of Forrest T. Durner on Feb. 25th 1980.
20 Years Ago (1990): Randy Keister, Guidance Counselor at Evansville high School, is proud to announce the
Valedictorians, Salutatorian and Honor graduates for the Class of 1990. Co-Valedictorians for the Class of 1990
are Robert Peters and Dennis Thiele. The Salutatorian for the Class of 1990 is Teresa Lappley. High Honor
students are Sandy Manolis, Brenda Harnack, Heather Hill, Darbie Nieman, Jerry Delzer, Sandra Larson and Joni
Hughes.
10 years ago (2000): EHS Prom for 2000, “Castles in the Stars” will be held Saturday, May 13. Prom Court
members are Heidi Martin, Emily Langmeier, Angie Beggs, Lindsey Davis, Sarah Behring, Melissa Green, Lindsay
Farnum, Tiffany Burner, Carmen Illichmann, Jessica Rasmussen, Serena Johnson, Chet Heacox, Dustin LaRue,
Mike Wyttenbach, Branden Hurtley, Jason Koebler, Justin Jacobsma, Branden Schmidt, Aaron Gransee, Christian
Bennett, Garret Lindemann, and Jered Wourms,
In Review
Third Week of May 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): A new bridge has been built across the mill race, at Madison Street crossing. It is built on
substantial stone abutments, well planked, and a good painted rail. The thing sits a little askew but it is owing to the
stream not running at right angles with the bridge.
130 Years Ago (1880): The engine boys have at last got a hammer to sound their fire alarm with. It is a heavy iron
sledge, attached to the place of usage by a long iron chain. Small boys are cautioned against meddling with it save
when other people holler “fire”.
120 Years Ago (1890): Dr. C. M. Smith, Jr., was called to Cooksville Saturday night to attend triplet childbirth of
Mrs. Hans P. Anderson. A boy was born at 1:15; a girl at 6 o’clock and a boy at 6:30 a.m. Total weight 16 lbs. The
youngest, a boy, lived but 24 hours to enjoy the blessings of this world, the other two with parents are getting along
nicely. At this rate of increment Cooksville will soon recover her lost population and add considerably to the census
roll. Although we have physicians in this city who have practiced for 30 and 40 years in this vicinity they state that
they never have attended a case of triplets. It is useless for us to wish the happy parents success and prosperity
for they are certainly assured of that.
110 Years Ago (1900): The public schools were closed during the scarlet fever scare and the janitor had to
fumigate and clean the building before school went back into session. Clifford Pearsall has been quite ill with
scarlet fever. Miss Hartley is nursing him. The quarantine was removed last Saturday from Rev. Lee’s and M. J.
Fisher’s home. All are glad to have these shut-ins about again.
100 Years Ago (1910): Fellows Station news: Our new telephone line is to be built this week; it is owned by eight
farmers, Herman Fenrick, William Gunlach, Tom Frusher, Lew and Fred Fellows, Foncie Collins, William Stevens
and Ole Berg and it has Evansville’s central.
90 Years Ago (1920): Mr. Brown who has charge of the historical library at Madison was in Evansville. He
selected many civil war and ancient relics from the house of John Evans which he will place in the historical library.
80 Years Ago (1930): Mrs. F. O. McKinney, Evansville’s only Gold Star mother, sailed yesterday from New York on
the S. S. President Harding for France where she will visit the grave of her son, Harry, the first Evansville soldier to
be killed in action. He was struck by a shell that burst overhead while he was eating breakfast on the battle front
May 20, 1918. The soldier, after whom the Evansville post of the American Legion is named was buried in the
American Cemetery, No. 176, at Villers Touruelle, Somme.
70 Years Ago (1940): Raymond D. Holm, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Franz Holm, and Edwin A. Hatlen, 18, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Carl Hatlen, both residing here on route 1, have passed preliminary tests at the United States Recruiting
substation in Rockford and will be sent to Chicago for final examination. If medical tests at Chicago are satisfactory,
the two men will be enlisted in the United States Navy and transferred to the naval training station at Great Lakes,
Ill., for 12 weeks’ preliminary training before further assignment to a navy technical school or to duty on board a
ship of the United States fleet.
60 Years Ago (1950): Some two years ago Oscar Hatlen lost his pocketbook on the J. B. Larsen farm. Last
Monday afternoon while plowing one of the fields on the farm, Mr. Larsen’s plow unearthed an object that looked
like a piece of leather. He examined it and found it to be a pocketbook. The pocketbook at the time it was lost was
supposed to have contained somewhere around $350. When found it had several bills, in large denominations and
some silver coins. These bill will be sent in to the United States Treasury for possible recovery and salvage.
50 Years Ago (1960): Fifteen years of often frustrating efforts will be brought to an end Saturday, May 21, 1960,
with the official dedication of Evansville’s new post office building. Evansville’s new building has been built under a
leasing plan. Under this plan, post offices are built to government specifications by private capital. The
government then leases the building for a specific period of time. Under this plan the property stays on the tax
rolls.
40 Years Ago (1970): Wayne Disch, 40 is recovering in the Madison General Hospital from severe burns he
received at 2 p.m. last week Wednesday when his plane crashed and burst into flames. Disch owned his own plane
and has recently had it repaired. He was flying over the Disch farm west of Evansville and as the plane fell it was
noticed by Steve Pestor. He and his brother Dave hurried to the scene of the accident, helped put out the fire and
summoned help.
30 Years Ago (1980): According to Tom Kerkenbush, director of the Evansville Summer Park program, planning is
now beginning for the program which will run from June 9th to August 1. Assisting Kerkenbush this year are Randy
Hatlen and Todd Sperry.
20 Years Ago (1990): Officer Scott McElroy will be representing the Evansville Police Department again this year.
Scott will be running for a good cause in the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run Special Olympics on June 7,
1990.
10 years ago (2000): Senior Amber Van Galder and Junior Dan McGoey will be performing with the First Brigade
Band. The Civil War Band will be at Evansville High School on Saturday May 20 at 7 p.m. The two Evansville high
school students will perform with the symphonic band and don authentic attire for a historical trip to the music of the
Civil War.
In Review
Fourth Week of May 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): We learn that Rev. J. Snashall has resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church with the
expectation of removing to Missouri. His successor is not yet named.
130 Years Ago (1880): Police Justice Mills informs us that there has not been a single case before him for a
number of weeks, for intemperance or disorderly conduct. He does not mention this fact boastingly, but for the
morals of our people, and for the moral sentiment of the law, when he has it to administer.
120 Years Ago (1890): Once more we call the attention of the public to the exhibit given in the high school building,
Thursday, June 6th, from 2 to 4 p.m. Each pupil’s final examination papers will be placed upon his desk for
exhibition, together with maps, drawing books, and other written works, completed during the year. Needlework,
painting, and various kind of decorative work will be displayed.
110 Years Ago (1900): Married: by Rev. W. W. Stevens at his home in Janesville, Wednesday afternoon, May 23,
1900, Miss Emma Apfel and Mr. Clarence Bullard, both of this city. The happy couple were attended by Miss Alice
Libby and Chas. Weaver, also of this place. They will spend the week visiting relatives at Rockford and Chicago
and return to make Evansville their home. They have the best wishes of a large circle of friends.
100 Years Ago (1910): The graduating exercises of the Evansville High School will begin next Sunday evening.
The class this year contains sixteen members, nine boys and seven girls, who graduate from the several courses
as follows: Modern classical course, Helen D. Brunsell, Clara M. Hoskins, Margaret Johnson, Clifford J. Pearsall,
Will E. Tomlin, Nina M. Worthing; German scientific course, Hugh H. Ahara, Byrl E. Ballard, Hazel M. Courtier,
Forrest T. Durner, Ellsworth E. Lee, Harold S. Theobald, Arthur E. Tomlin, Jessie M. Kingdon; English course, Earl
A. Potter, and Grant Howard.
90 Years Ago (1920): The Graham Brothers’ Cozy Café caught fire by the explosion of a gas stove at 3 o’clock
Sunday morning while Walter Graham was serving lunch to some boys. A new supply of goods was destroyed with
the building. A small insurance was carried on the building. This is the second time the building has burned by the
same cause within 5 months. It was run by Al Cratzer. The Graham Brothers do not yet know whether they will
rebuild or not.
80 Years Ago (1930): A class of 46 students will receive diplomas at the commencement exercises at the
Evansville High School gymnasium. With the highest class average for a period of four years, Ruth Smith has
earned the distinction of being class valedictorian, and Kenneth Lay, whose average is second highest, has been
named salutatorian. The next four highest in rank who received more than 50 honor points are Margaret Baker,
Robert Hubbard, Kathryn Kemmett, Owen Slauson, and Harold Porter.
70 Years Ago (1940): At the regular meeting of the Evansville 4-H Club held here Friday night in the City Hall,
Doris Golz, Charlotte Brunsell, Maurice Reese, and Orson Hunt were chosen captains for the annual county 4-H
picnic. Miss Golz will head the girls’ kittenball entry from Evansville; Miss Brunsell, the volleyball; Reese, boys’
kittenball; and Hunt, boys’ volleyball.
60 Years Ago (1950): Making memorial poppies to be worn in honor of the war dead on Poppy Day, May 27, is
providing employment for thousands of disabled veterans in hospitals throughout the country, according to Mrs.
Marion Jones, Poppy Chairman of the Evansville Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary. Poppies which will be worn
here are being made by patients at the Wood V. A. Hospital in Milwaukee. The flowers are made of crepe paper
and are accurate representations of the wild poppies of France and Belgium, which grew in such profusion on the
battlefields of both world wars. The “Flanders Fields” poppy has been the memorial flower of all English speaking
countries ever since the First World War.
50 Years Ago (1960): Victor Rasmussen and Lester Trunkhill were seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when a
scaffolding they were on, broke and let them fall. The accident happened while the men were at work on the house
being built by the Jay Feldt’s on West Main Street. Both men were taken to the Stoughton hospital by ambulance.
40 Years Ago (1970): The following are the honor students of the class of 1970, Janis Holm, Jay Johnson, Theresa
Schnell Newport, Shirlee Christensen, Paula DesRochers, Alice Manthey, Jacqueline Bone, Corrine Algrim, Sandy
Kuelz, Leonard Eager, Marcia Haakenson, Linda Polich and Daryl Fuchs.
30 Years Ago (1980): Commencement exercises will be held this Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m. in the high school gym
for 117 graduates. Sonja Hagen, valedictorian, and Scott Brunsell, salutatorian, will give the commencement
addresses. High honor students of the class are Carolyn Jordan, Tamara Moe, Kathi Drefahl, Carol Garbrecht,
Gale Yoerger and Amy Pratt. Honor students are: Michael Petterson, Jeanne Olson, Michael Flesch, Michael
Franklin, Patti Elmer, Mary Peterson, Mitzi Fenrich Heath, Julie Haakenson, Darcy Golz, Irma Steinhoff, Cynthia
Bollerud, Glen Yoerger, Jeffrey Hawkinson, Peter Manke, Gerald Forstrom, Carmen Baumberger and Susan
Cromheecke.
20 Years Ago (1990): Blackhawk Technical college will hold graduation ceremonies May 24. The following area
women will be graduating from the Associate Degree in Nursing: Kristina Kjundle will be employed at Beloit
Memorial Hospital; Laurie Fesenfeld-Muchow will be employed at UW Hospital in Madison; Diana Neuenschwander
will be employed at Rock County Health Care Center in Janesville; and Linda Piper will join the staff at Mercy
Hospital.
10 years ago (2000): Dr. Gary Albrecht arrived at 10:20 p.m. at the “School Referendum Thank You Party” held
at the Red Barn with the news that the ballots had been counted and the unofficial results showed that question
number 1, requesting 25.5 million for the upgrades, renovation, and construction to all three existing schools and
for a new high school had passed by more than 100 votes. Question number two, which asked for the increase of
operating costs by $775,000 passed with less than a 30 vote-margin. Question three for a $2.2 million swimming
pool, along with question 4, the pool operating costs, failed. The totals for question 1 were 1,307 yes and 1117
no.